domestication.
On the other hand, he’d be an excellent candidate for stud service. Just think of the beautiful babies he would make—
Abbie choked on her coffee. She set the mug down on the table and pushed to her feet.
“Are you okay?”
She started. For a large man, Flynn could move in complete silence when he wanted to. She hadn’t heard him approach, even though she’d been watching for him.
Yes, there was no point denying it, she’d been watching for him. He’d been the first person she’d looked for when she’d emerged from the cubicle at the back of the tent, and why shouldn’t she? He was the one who had brought her here, he was her link to her normal life.
He was also far more effective than even this dissolve-a-spoon coffee when it came to kick-starting her pulse.
Damn. She knew better than this, didn’t she?
“Abbie?” He put his palm between her shoulder blades and rubbed gently. “Do you want some water?”
“No, I’m fine, thanks.” She turned to face him. She cleared her throat and kept her gaze on his shirt. He was wearing pale-blue chambray today. A few fine, dark hairs showed at the base of his throat where he’d left the top button open. “Has there been any news?”
He shook his head. “Nothing from the LLA. We did get a call from Ambassador Vilyas.”
“The poor man. He must be beside himself with worry by now.”
“Yeah, he’s strung out. He said he wants to meet you.”
“Of course. When?”
“Now.”
That was something else that was different between her normal life and Flynn’s world, Abbie thought. There was no room for hesitation here. When these Delta Force soldiers decided to do something, they simply did it. It spoke of the confidence they had in themselves, that straight-ahead self-assurance that seemed to color every action.
Like the way Flynn kissed.
Abbie’s gaze rose to his chin. He must have just finished shaving. There was no beard stubble to darken the lines beside his mouth. She caught a whiff of lime aftershave and the earthy freshness that was pure Flynn.
“In case anyone asks why you’re at the embassy, keep the lies simple,” he said. “Say your class is doing a project on Ladavia.”
Lies. Right. That’s what Flynn was good at. “Wouldn’t the embassy staff know about the kidnapping?”
“Someone had to have tipped the LLA to the kid’s movements before the snatch,” Flynn said. “Vilyas doesn’t want to trust anyone except the immediate members of his family. He’s afraid there could be terrorist sympathizers at the embassy.”
“How awful.”
“If he could trust his people, Delta Force wouldn’t have become involved in this in the first place,” he said. “We’ll be taking my bike this time, so you’ll need a jacket. Did you pack one?”
“Yes, I did, but why would we take your motorcycle again?” she asked. She wasn’t accustomed to traveling by motorcycle. The men of her acquaintance used more sensible, conservative modes of transportation, something that would hold a child safety seat. Like the boxy Volvo station wagon Peter Hedgeworth drove when he picked up Bradley from school. “Why can’t we use that van you were driving yesterday?”
“That was so we could carry your suitcase.” He started toward the cubicle she and Sarah shared. “We’ll be meeting Vilyas at the embassy, so we’re being highly visible in case anyone’s watching.”
She hurried to catch up. “I don’t understand.”
“This would have been the next logical step if Vilyas had contacted you himself. You’d be expected to meet him in person.”
“Then wouldn’t I be going there on my own?”
He held aside the canvas door and waited while she retrieved her jacket. “You’re not going anywhere without me, Abbie. It’s my duty to ensure your safety while you’re on this mission. Until it’s over, consider me your shadow.”
She didn’t like the tickle of pleasure she felt at his words. She frowned as she put on her
On the other hand, he’d be an excellent candidate for stud service. Just think of the beautiful babies he would make—
Abbie choked on her coffee. She set the mug down on the table and pushed to her feet.
“Are you okay?”
She started. For a large man, Flynn could move in complete silence when he wanted to. She hadn’t heard him approach, even though she’d been watching for him.
Yes, there was no point denying it, she’d been watching for him. He’d been the first person she’d looked for when she’d emerged from the cubicle at the back of the tent, and why shouldn’t she? He was the one who had brought her here, he was her link to her normal life.
He was also far more effective than even this dissolve-a-spoon coffee when it came to kick-starting her pulse.
Damn. She knew better than this, didn’t she?
“Abbie?” He put his palm between her shoulder blades and rubbed gently. “Do you want some water?”
“No, I’m fine, thanks.” She turned to face him. She cleared her throat and kept her gaze on his shirt. He was wearing pale-blue chambray today. A few fine, dark hairs showed at the base of his throat where he’d left the top button open. “Has there been any news?”
He shook his head. “Nothing from the LLA. We did get a call from Ambassador Vilyas.”
“The poor man. He must be beside himself with worry by now.”
“Yeah, he’s strung out. He said he wants to meet you.”
“Of course. When?”
“Now.”
That was something else that was different between her normal life and Flynn’s world, Abbie thought. There was no room for hesitation here. When these Delta Force soldiers decided to do something, they simply did it. It spoke of the confidence they had in themselves, that straight-ahead self-assurance that seemed to color every action.
Like the way Flynn kissed.
Abbie’s gaze rose to his chin. He must have just finished shaving. There was no beard stubble to darken the lines beside his mouth. She caught a whiff of lime aftershave and the earthy freshness that was pure Flynn.
“In case anyone asks why you’re at the embassy, keep the lies simple,” he said. “Say your class is doing a project on Ladavia.”
Lies. Right. That’s what Flynn was good at. “Wouldn’t the embassy staff know about the kidnapping?”
“Someone had to have tipped the LLA to the kid’s movements before the snatch,” Flynn said. “Vilyas doesn’t want to trust anyone except the immediate members of his family. He’s afraid there could be terrorist sympathizers at the embassy.”
“How awful.”
“If he could trust his people, Delta Force wouldn’t have become involved in this in the first place,” he said. “We’ll be taking my bike this time, so you’ll need a jacket. Did you pack one?”
“Yes, I did, but why would we take your motorcycle again?” she asked. She wasn’t accustomed to traveling by motorcycle. The men of her acquaintance used more sensible, conservative modes of transportation, something that would hold a child safety seat. Like the boxy Volvo station wagon Peter Hedgeworth drove when he picked up Bradley from school. “Why can’t we use that van you were driving yesterday?”
“That was so we could carry your suitcase.” He started toward the cubicle she and Sarah shared. “We’ll be meeting Vilyas at the embassy, so we’re being highly visible in case anyone’s watching.”
She hurried to catch up. “I don’t understand.”
“This would have been the next logical step if Vilyas had contacted you himself. You’d be expected to meet him in person.”
“Then wouldn’t I be going there on my own?”
He held aside the canvas door and waited while she retrieved her jacket. “You’re not going anywhere without me, Abbie. It’s my duty to ensure your safety while you’re on this mission. Until it’s over, consider me your shadow.”
She didn’t like the tickle of pleasure she felt at his words. She frowned as she put on her
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